Brian Killian Consulting
Asset performance • Financial clarity • Operational discipline
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Nationwide consulting • Commercial & residential portfolios

Clear thinking and steady execution for complex real estate portfolios

With over 20 years in property and asset operations, I help owners and investors bring structure, visibility, and confidence to portfolio decisions.

20+ years in property & asset operations
Office, mixed-use, industrial, multifamily
Institutional + private ownership experience
No sales pitch — just clarity on what’s working, what isn’t, and where to focus first.
Brian Killian
Brian Killian
Principal, Brian Killian Consulting
Seattle-based • Real estate operations consulting
View LinkedIn →
Professional leadership meeting

Institutional discipline with an operator-first mindset.

How it starts

How engagements typically begin

A clear path from conversation to measurable outcomes—without a long ramp-up.

1) 30-minute call

We clarify what’s driving noise, what “good” looks like, and whether I’m the right fit.

2) Short diagnostic / sprint

A focused 2–6 week scope to stabilize reporting, budgets, vendor performance, or a specific project.

3) Deliverables + optional execution

You receive decision-ready outputs (templates, cadence, scorecards)—and I can help implement if needed.

Professional leadership meeting

From intial conversation to focused execution, without unnecessary complecity.

Why work with me

A calm, operator-first approach

Consulting that feels like an experienced partner — not a slide deck.

I speak “owner” and “operations”

I translate on-the-ground realities into clear reporting, decisions, and accountability. The goal is a steady cadence owners can trust — and teams can actually execute.

Practical, not theoretical

You’ll get simple frameworks, clean templates, and a realistic plan your team can follow. I focus on the few levers that move performance — and remove the noise.

Fast clarity, measurable outcomes

We’ll define success upfront — reporting standards, cost controls, a capital roadmap, or an execution cadence — and track progress with a simple scorecard.

What you can expect on the free 30-minute call
  • Identify the top 2–3 drivers of noise (reporting, budget drift, vendors, capital).
  • Clarify what “good” looks like: KPIs, cadence, ownership, and decision lanes.
  • A simple first-week plan: what to fix now vs. what to stabilize over 30–60 days.
  • Confirm fit (or I’ll point you toward the right next step if I’m not the best match).
Typical engagements range from 2–6 weeks depending on portfolio size and complexity.
Professional leadership meeting

Institutional discipline with an operator-first mindset.

Fit

Who this is for (and who it isn’t)

A quick self-check so you can decide fast—without wading through every detail.

My work is most effective when expectations are clear, decisions are deliberate, and operating rhythm matters as much as outcomes.

This is a good fit if you:
  • Want predictable reporting and fewer surprises month-to-month
  • Need budgets/forecasts that explain variance clearly and early
  • Want vendor performance governed by scope, standards, and accountability
  • Need capital planning that is decision-ready (options, risks, phasing, approvals)
  • Have a busy team—but progress feels noisy, reactive, or inconsistent
This may not be a fit if you:
  • Need day-to-day property management staffing rather than advisory support
  • Want a long slide deck instead of practical templates and follow-through
  • Prefer general advice without implementing systems, cadence, or ownership
  • Aren’t ready to define measurable outcomes up front
Are we a fit?

Clear priorities. Shared targets. Reliable follow-through.

Next step

Get clarity on what to do first

If you share what you’re trying to improve, I’ll propose a simple scope with clear outcomes.

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You’ll leave the call with a quick read on what’s driving noise and the first 2–3 moves to create momentum.

What you’ll get in 30 minutes
  • Identify the top 2–3 drivers of noise (reporting, budget drift, vendors, capital).
  • Clarify what “good” looks like: KPIs, cadence, ownership, and decision lanes.
  • A simple first-week plan: what to fix now vs. what to stabilize over 30–60 days.
  • Confirm fit (or I’ll point you toward the right next step if I’m not the best match).
Confidentiality is standard—share as much or as little detail as you’d like.
Starter scopes
Reporting & KPI reset
2–6 weeks depending on portfolio size.
Budget + reforecast controls
2–6 weeks depending on portfolio size.
Vendor optimization sprint
2–6 weeks depending on portfolio size.
Capital planning + phasing
2–6 weeks depending on portfolio size.
Handshake between business partners

Clear communication. Reliable follow-through.

Proof

Selected case studies

Real examples of outcomes and execution approach (details anonymized).

Forecast stability

Forecast stability through disciplined scope control and reporting cadence

Multi-building campus-style commercial portfolio with recurring operating and capital activity across multiple vendors and internal teams.

Restored predictable forecasting by tightening scope discipline and introducing a proactive reporting cadence that reduced surprises.

  • Forecast assumptions standardized and documented
  • Vendor scopes clarified prior to execution
  • Risks surfaced early through weekly updates
Results: Month-end variance reduced by ~50% within 4–6 months • NOI predictability improved to within ~±2.5% • Fewer change orders due to clearer upfront scoping
Decision velocity

Accelerating ownership approvals through proposal discipline

Multi-asset commercial portfolio requiring frequent operational and capital approvals across varying ownership priorities.

Reduced approval friction by standardizing proposal structure and decision framing.

  • Approval packages rebuilt for clarity and consistency
  • Submission standards aligned with ownership decision-making
  • Manager training reduced rework and delays
Results: Approval cycle time reduced from ~3–4 weeks to ~3–4 days • First-pass approvals normalized within ~90 days • Owner follow-ups and revisions declined significantly
Operating alignment

Variance volatility reduction through cross-functional reintegration

Commercial portfolio consisting of approximately 70% office and 30% industrial warehouse properties.

Stabilized performance by reintegrating siloed teams and restoring disciplined communication.

  • Cross-team communication norms re-established
  • Single source of truth for ownership updates
  • Clear escalation paths and shared cadence
Results: Variance volatility reduced by up to ~90% • Ownership involvement reduced to bi-weekly cadence • Operational trust restored within ~100 days
Lease-up strategy

Delivering lease-up velocity without over-concessioning

Ground-up residential lease-up projects requiring competitive positioning while protecting long-term rent integrity.

Achieved predictable absorption by treating concessions as a controlled strategic lever.

  • Weekly funnel tracking tied concessions to absorption
  • Clear decision rules replaced reactive pricing
  • Ownership reporting focused on pace and rent health
Results: Concessions deployed deliberately rather than reactively • Lease-up velocity achieved without rent roll erosion • Reduced strategy churn through consistent reporting cadence
Handshake between business partners

Clear communication. Reliable follow-through.

Performance Philosophy

How I think about performance

Operating clarity, decision discipline, and execution systems that reduce noise.

I approach real estate performance through a small set of disciplined, repeatable operating principles. Across portfolios, property types, and ownership structures, the work varies—but the execution logic stays consistent.

Predictability matters more than perfection
Owners don’t expect zero variance—they expect to understand it. I focus on tightening forecast accuracy, reducing surprise, and ensuring teams surface operational risk early instead of explaining it late.
Decision quality is a performance metric
Slow approvals, unclear proposals, and rework create hidden operating drag. I design systems that shorten decision cycles, improve first-pass approvals, and keep leadership discussions moving forward instead of backward.
Communication is an operating system
Most volatility starts as informational, not financial. When teams operate in silos, performance degrades. I align operations, accounting, engineering, and construction so context travels with the data.
Time is a controllable asset
When teams spend less time reacting, they gain time to prevent issues. Reducing back-and-forth, escalations, and noise creates capacity for proactive work that compounds across the portfolio.
Metrics must reflect reality—not just reporting
I focus on metrics that reflect how work actually happens: forecast variance trends, decision velocity, escalation frequency, lease-up efficiency, and stabilization timelines—not vanity KPIs.
Metrics I care about
Forecast variance reduction (target: ≥40–50%)
Approval cycle time (weeks → days)
Escalation frequency (reduced 30–40%)
Variance volatility control (stabilized reporting)
Lease-up efficiency vs pro forma
Time-to-stabilization improvements
Simple filter
If a metric doesn’t change decisions, it’s noise.
Professional leadership meeting

Leadership that keeps teams aligned and owners informed.

Deliverables

What owners receive

Decision-ready outputs—built to reduce noise, tighten predictability, and keep teams aligned.

Outputs you can forward

Clear, owner-ready materials—no consulting theater. Depending on scope, you’ll receive a tailored set of templates, narratives, and dashboards your team can run without me.

Monthly operating reporting with variance narratives + forward risk flags
Budget + reforecast models tied to execution assumptions and timing
Approval-ready proposal templates (scope, risk, ROI clarity, decision points)
Capital planning roadmaps with phasing, governance rules, and reporting cadence
Lease-up dashboards tracking pace, concessions, and rent health
Cross-functional operating cadence + escalation framework (who owns what, when)
Board/IC-ready summary pages when needed (clean, concise, defensible)
Transfer package: SOPs, checklists, and training so improvements stick
Built-in governance

Owners get clarity on approvals, exceptions, and accountability—so decisions don’t drift and reporting stays predictable.

Approval thresholds + lanes
Exception handling + escalation rules
Vendor scope controls to reduce change orders
Cadence that prevents “status chasing”
Handshake between business partners

Clear communication. Reliable follow-through.

Engagements

How clients use me

Flexible scopes—from quick stabilization to ongoing performance oversight.

Diagnostic + stabilization
Get control fast—clarify variance drivers, reset cadence, and eliminate recurring surprises.
30–60 day resetReporting + controlsOwner-ready narrative
Project-based execution
Deliver a defined outcome—budgets, templates, capital planning, or lease-up operating rhythm.
2–8 weeksTemplates + trainingMeasurable deliverables
Interim / fractional leadership
Hands-on leadership while you hire or restructure—keeping performance stable during transitions.
Acting ops leadVendor governanceTeam alignment + accountability
Ongoing advisory
Maintain discipline—monthly/quarterly oversight to keep reporting, controls, and execution tight.
Portfolio oversightKPIs + cadenceContinuous improvement
Handshake between business partners

Clear communication. Reliable follow-through.

Performance philosophy

How I think about asset performance

Asset performance is NOI under constraints—cashflow timing, reserves, debt service, and covenant discipline.

Once operating discipline is in place, financial performance becomes manageable instead of reactive. This is where execution turns into protected cashflow and predictable lender outcomes.

Cashflow is the truth
I manage performance the way a lender does: rent collections → operating costs → reserves → debt service. NOI matters, but liquidity timing and controllable levers matter more.
  • Separate paper variance vs. cash variance
  • Track timing risk (reimbursements, CAM true-ups, capex draws)
  • Protect debt service before optional spend
Covenant discipline (DSCR + triggers)
Loan covenants are guardrails. I monitor DSCR and break-even trends forward-looking, flag risks early, and build a cushion plan before coverage compresses.
  • Monitor DSCR trajectory, not just point-in-time
  • Identify top 2–3 covenant drift triggers (downtime, credits, repairs)
  • Create 60–120 day action plan to preserve cushion
Reserves + capital planning
Reserves aren’t a line item—they’re a schedule. I run capex/tenant spend with governance so commitments match funding, timing, and approval lanes.
  • Capex and TI/LC tracked like a forecast, not a wish list
  • Spend tied to payback, risk reduction, and covenant impact
  • Avoid last-minute capital calls and reactive deferrals
Lender-ready reporting
Clean, consistent reporting prevents scrambling. I focus on a clear narrative: what changed, why it matters, and what we’re doing next—framed in capital terms.
  • Month-end package + mid-month risk check cadence
  • Decision framing: payback, downside risk, covenant impact
  • Fewer surprises, faster alignment with ownership/debt partners
Handshake between business partners
How it works

A repeatable operating approach

Practical, structured, and easy for teams to adopt—built for owners who want clarity and control.

1) Diagnose
Review current performance, reporting, vendor agreements, work order data, and stakeholder expectations.
Trailing 12 storyVariance driversService pain pointsProcess bottlenecks
2) Design
Build a clear plan with measurable outcomes: budgets, SOPs, dashboards, and a capital roadmap.
KPI definitionsCadence & ownershipTemplatesApproval lanes
3) Execute
Implement quick wins while building durable systems. Align PM/leasing/engineering/accounting.
Vendor scorecardsEnergy/utility recoveryProject controlsTenant comms
4) Transfer
Handoff materials and train teams so improvements stick. Optional ongoing oversight.
PlaybooksCoachingGovernanceQuarterly refresh
Professional leadership meeting

Custom designed and tailored for your goals.

About

Built in operations. Fluent in investor language.

A practical operator who turns field realities into numbers, narratives, and repeatable systems.

Background

I’ve led operations across office, retail, mixed-use, and multifamily portfolios—including campus environments with complex service delivery. My work focuses on improving NOI and tenant experience through better reporting, tighter controls, and stronger execution.

20+ years in real estate operations
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Institutional owner reporting
Cross-functional leadership
Tools & systems
Yardi • MRI • Entrata • Smartsheet • Asana • Office 365 • and portfolio reporting stacks.
Style
Calm under pressure • clear writing • tight accountability • pragmatic change management

A quick reminder of who you’ll be working with and how I approach engagements.

Brian Killian
Brian Killian
Principal, Brian Killian Consulting
Seattle-based • Real estate operations consulting
View LinkedIn →
Contact

Let’s talk about your portfolio

Share what you’re trying to improve and I’ll propose a simple scope with clear outcomes.

Share what you’re trying to improve and I’ll recommend the fastest path to clarity—whether that’s a short sprint, a reporting reset, or a defined project scope.

Starter scopes
Reporting & KPI reset
2–6 weeks depending on portfolio size.
Budget + reforecast controls
2–6 weeks depending on portfolio size.
Vendor optimization sprint
2–6 weeks depending on portfolio size.
Capital planning + phasing
2–6 weeks depending on portfolio size.